San Jacinto Intermediate Principal Dianna Walker and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kirk Lewis accept $50,000 grant from Verizon's Houston/Gulf Coast Region President Krista Bourne. San Jacinto Intermediate earned bragging rights on Friday as it officially became one of only 12 schools in the country to take part in a new technology initiative with Verizon to become a Verizon Innovative Learning School.
The school received a $50,000 grant alongside Verizon officials on Friday at a press conference on site.
But no one is more excited to start this new journey than San Jacinto Intermediate Principal Dianna Walker who one year ago, along with her staff of teachers and Executive Director of Grants Susan Bauer, wrote the initial grant for the program.
“It was in May of last year that we put our thoughts on paper,” said Walker. “To see it come to life today really is an exciting opportunity for us.”
The Verizon Innovative Learning School program aims to prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) while integrating the latest technology in mobile devices and netbooks. Verizon officials said the program will go beyond app-based games and basic Internet searches, and train teachers how to collaborate and create videos through its partnership with the International Society for Technology in Education.
The school will also receive a year-long training program and an additional $15,000 for the second year of the program. Additionally, the program will allow the staff at San Jacinto to integrate technology into school curriculum and collaborate with industry professionals in the field.
“We want teachers to learn to integrate technology successfully so that it is not a distraction,” said Krista Bourne, the Verizon region president for the Houston/Gulf Coast area. “This is going to be a way to learn those complex subjects in class in a fun way that captures the attention of students.”
In the fall of 2011, San Jacinto Intermediate started a 1-to-1 pilot project that equipped all seventh-graders at the school with take-home laptops to use until they moved to high school. Two years later, the school is still using that technology and resources to expand classroom learning.
“With the 2011 Bond, the Pasadena community started this movement that has provided technology to our classrooms and our students,” said Walker. “We are thankful for the Verizon grant which will further enhance the use of technology in the classroom and broaden the scope of instruction.”

San Jacinto Intermediate technology teachers and liaisons gather for a group photo with Verizon officials.

Pasadena City Council member Darrel Morrison, together with Texas Representative Mary Ann Perez and Verizon officials join in the check presentation ceremony.